Hugo Galerie is thrilled to open its debut season with a solo exhibition of works by master French Bulgarian painter, Albert Hadjiganev. Hadjiganev’s latest collection, Pérégrinations, features new oil on canvas landscapes, as well as sensitive still lifes. Hadjiganev captures simple, organic moments with only a few elements, visible brush strokes and an incredible handling of natural light. This is Albert Hadjiganev’s second solo exhibition at Hugo Galerie.

Pérégrinations, the title of Hadjiganev’s latest exhibition. A long journey. From Normandy to Andalucia. Vast landscapes and profound still life paintings embody the latest collection. Arresting views come to life in Pérégrinations.

Hadjiganev’s representations of the natural world are painterly and rich; they are emotional depictions of shadow and light, of the sky and the sea, of day and night. The painter’s exceptional treatment of light, color and shadow, along with his organic palettes and stark contrasts create his signature style. His large oil on canvas paintings capture the conflicting dualities inherent in nature – light and dark, freedom and control, beauty and melancholy. His works maintain a delicate balance between a sense of foreboding and one of welcoming. Hadjiganev’s landscapes are simultaneously perceptive impressions of the physical world and visual representations of the artist’s life, struggles and views of humanity.

Born in 1954 in Bulgaria to a family of artists, Hadjiganev was constantly influenced by his father and brother, both artists. In 1977, he enrolled at The National School of Photography in Sofia, Bulgaria. However, he constantly kept sight of his ultimate goal: to study painting at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. At the age of 28, he left his native home and walked across the border. After numerous hardships, he finally reached Paris. By 1987, his struggle paid off and he reached his goal - he graduated from the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He has lived in France ever since. In 1989, he was the recipient of the coveted Grand Prix de Peinture of the Academie des Beaux-Arts and in 1990, he received the Prix du Gouvernement Princier at the Salon International d’Art Contemporain in Monaco. Since then, Hadjiganev has had over 40 solo exhibitions in the US and in Europe.